Sexual Abuse
This page discusses sexual abuse lawsuits concerning the Waxter Juvenile Detention Center in Laurel, Maryland. Many former juvenile inmates at Waxter may have suffered sexual assault and abuse at the hands of staff members over the facility’s operational years. Thanks to a recent law in Maryland, victims of childhood sexual abuse can now pursue civil litigation against the state, seeking compensation for the trauma they endured.
About the Thomas Waxter Children’s Center
The Thomas Waxter Children’s Center, also known as Waxter, operated as a juvenile correctional and detention facility under the Maryland Department of Juvenile Services, situated in Laurel. Waxter primarily detained female juvenile offenders from the early 1950s until its closure in January 2022.
At its peak, Waxter could accommodate up to 165 inmates, making it Maryland’s largest female juvenile detention and correctional facility. It housed young female offenders convicted of repeat offenses or violent crimes and once provided a secure, committed treatment program for special needs youth.
Inhabitants of Waxter resided in secure dormitory-style facilities and followed a structured daily routine, including six hours of schooling five days a week, on-site medical and mental health counseling, and recreational activities.
Named after Thomas J.S. Waxter, a respected advocate for juvenile justice reform in Maryland, the facility aimed to offer secure detention for female juveniles awaiting court decisions or longer-term placement, along with care and rehabilitation services. However, it failed to meet these aspirations.
Over the years, the center has garnered attention for its safety, security, and living conditions for its juvenile population. Like numerous juvenile facilities nationwide, Waxter has faced criticism and scrutiny for its treatment of young offenders and the efficacy of its rehabilitation programs.
New Lawsuits Allege Sexual Abuse at Waxter
A collection of over 50 former inmates have recently gone public with accusations that they were the victims of sexual abuse and assault inside Maryland’s juvenile justice facilities. Waxter was one of the primary facilities named in the lawsuits.
These victims have brought a civil sex abuse lawsuit detail based on allegations of repeated rape and molestation of minors under state care at facilities like Waxter. The allegations detail the state’s chronic negligence in protecting these children and its failure to implement adequate oversight to prevent such abuses.
These lawsuits were made possible by the enactment of a new law in Maryland that broadens the rights of child sex abuse victims and initiates a series of civil actions against the state. The incidents at issue in these lawsuits date back over five decades, involving abuse in six different juvenile justice centers, bringing Maryland’s state government under scrutiny amidst a broader justice movement fueled by legislative reform.
Child Sexual Abuse Victims Can Now Get Compensation
Victims of sexual assault or abuse at juvenile facilities like Waxtercan now file a civil lawsuit against that facility and get financial compensation. A new Maryland law that took effect in October 2023 permits civil lawsuits based on sexual abuse that occurred when the victim was a child (under age 18) to be filed no matter how long ago the abuse occurred.
What is Sexual Abuse or Assault
Sexual abuse is defined as intentional sexual contact (either directly or through clothing) of the intimate parts for degrading or humiliating the victim or sexually gratifying the abuser. This definition covers everything from forcible rape to indecent exposure.
The critical element that defines all types and categories of sexual abuse or assault is the lack of consent. Without consent, any form of sexual contact is actionable as sexual abuse or assault. Children (under the age of 18) lack the legal capacity to give consent to sexual contact. Therefore, any intentional sexual contact by an adult with a minor is necessarily considered sexual abuse.
When Can a Juvenile Facility Be Liable for Sexual Abuse
Juvenile detention centers like Waxter have a legal obligation to protect their inmates from harm. This means that they can be held liable in a civil lawsuit for negligently failing to protect the victim or prevent the abuse from happening. Usually it is staff members at the facility who commit the sexual abuse, which means that the facility will have clear liability for the incident. However, the facility can still be held liable for failing to provide adequate protection even when another inmate or juvenile commits the abuse or assault.
Settlement Value of Sex Abuse Lawsuits Against Waxter
The amount of money someone might get from a lawsuit about child sexual abuse at a place like Waxter depends on a few things:
How Bad It Was: The main thing is how bad the abuse was. The worse it was, the more money they might get.
Proof: Having proof makes a big difference. If there’s solid proof of what happened, the case might be worth more.
Who’s Responsible: If the facility where the abuse happened was really careless, the victim might get more money.
Under the new Maryland Child Victims Act, the most someone can get from a lawsuit about sexual abuse that happened a long time ago is $850,000 if the facility was run by the state. That’s because the law has a limit on how much money can be given for cases involving state places like schools or facilities.
Contact Us About Sex Abuse Lawsuits Against Waxter
If you were sexually abused at a juvenile detention facility like Waxter, contact our sex abuse lawyers today for free consultation. Contact us online or call us at 800-553-8082.